While I've been working away on my iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus reviews, Phil Nickinson from Android Central has been knocking out his Moto X review. (Yes, it's kinda like new iPad or HTC One, in that there's no way to differentiate it from last year's model other than to add a year designator — 2014 — behind it, which not only doesn't solve problems but causes them. Let's stop that, shall we?). So, what does Phil think of the new Moto X (2014)?
If I'm going to use a phone this large, why not get a Samsung Galaxy S5 or LG G3 and get better cameras in the process? Or hold out a bit and get a Galaxy Note 4 with the pen input customizations? Or get a Nexus phone that gets software updates just as quickly, even if it does miss out on some of the built-in customizations? Or, hell, why not stick with last year's Moto X?
On the other hand, the Moto X has always been about all the little things. And the 2014 Moto X continues that trend. The unobtrusive software. (Again, though, the carriers and their unwanted bloatware get a stern wag of the finger.) The timely software updates, both at the system level and at the application level. A camera that's good (but not great) for most people most of the time. Customization options that nobody else can do. Colors. Leather. Wood. And price points that don't necessarily break the bank. (About $600 for the 32G "Pure Edition," and as low as $99 on contract.)
Never mind what the best is. The 2014 Moto X truly does come down being worth more than the sum of those parts. It's bigger, sure. But it's better. Maybe it's still unassuming, but it's also one of the best overall smartphone experiences you can get today.
It's interesting to compare and contrast the Moto X to the iPhone because both got bigger this year. Where the iPhone went from 4-inches to 4.7- and 5.5-inches, the Moto X went from 4.7-inches to 5.2-inches. And in both cases, some element of the established customer base complained about the enlargement.
Yet where Apple wants to push the envelope with its new hardware, the Moto X has always felt more about bits than atoms. The original showcased Google's investment in services. It may not have had leading edge specs, but it had a natural language and context co-processors that made "Okay, Google Now!" famous. Where Apple decided they don't want to operate on our data on their servers even if it means withholding more prescient assistant-style features, like predictive alerts, the Moto X will take us much of your data as you'll give it and help you out as much as it can in return.
This is why competition is good for all of us. Even if only so that Phil can have a phone with a "leather cognac" back.
There are many more differences as well, from the philosophical to the practical. Phil covers them in-depth in his Moto X review, just as you'd expect. And I'll be doing likewise with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus soon.
For now, check out the review, check out the video, and let me know — how do you think the Moto X (2014) compares to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus?
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